Adaptable codec for selecting encoding scheme based on quality of experience

Abstract

The present invention provides an adaptable codec for use in a communication system. The adaptable codec is capable of encoding a digital stream to be transmitted according to any one of a number of encoding schemes. A particular encoding scheme may be selected based on information received from a network entity that is separate from the communication system, a user associated with the communication system, a remote communication system with which communications are established, or a combination thereof. Once a particular encoding scheme is selected, an encoder will encode the digital stream to be transmitted, and a packet processor will create packets from the encoded digital stream. The selection of an encoding scheme will generally correspond to a desired quality of experience level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use in a communication network for selecting an encoding scheme for a communication session, the apparatus comprising:
 an encoder adapted to encode a digital stream to be transmitted according to one of a plurality of encoding schemes to provide an encoded digital stream; 
 a packet processor adapted to create packets to be transmitted from the encoded digital stream; 
 at least one communication interface adapted to transmit the packets to be transmitted over the communication network and receive control information from a network server, the control information bearing on a desired quality of experience level to be used for the communication session; and 
 a control system adapted to instruct the encoder to select the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the control information, wherein the control information is used to select the encoding scheme that corresponds to the desired quality of experience level. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to receive additional control information from a user via a user interface associated with the control system and select the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the additional control information as well as the control information from the network server. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to receive additional control information from a remote communication client receiving the packets to be transmitted and select the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the additional control information as well as the control information from the network server. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to:
 receive first additional control information from a user via a user interface associated with the control system; 
 receive second additional control information from a remote communication client receiving the packets to be transmitted; and 
 select the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the first and second additional control information as well as the control information from the network server. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a variable passband filter having a variable passband and adapted to filter the digital stream prior to encoding. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the variable passband filter to set the variable passband based on the control information. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the packet processor to create the packets to be transmitted based on the control information. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to effect transmission of the packets to be transmitted based on the control information. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the packet processor is further adapted to receive transmitted packets and create a received digital stream, and further comprising a decoder adapted to decode the received digital stream to provide a decoded digital stream. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a feedback controller adapted to receive the digital stream to be transmitted and the decoded digital stream and create a cancellation signal for canceling feedback contained within the decoded digital stream based on the digital stream to be transmitted and the decoded digital stream. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a differential amplifier adapted to receive the decoded digital stream and the cancellation signal and apply the cancellation signal to the decoded digital stream to cancel the feedback contained within the decoded digital stream. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the feedback controller is adapted to receive a latency signal bearing on latency associated with the communication session for the packets to be transmitted and create the cancellation signal based on the latency signal. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the desired quality of experience level is provided for the communication session over the communication network. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein there are a plurality of quality of experience levels and each quality of experience level is associated with a different one of the group consisting of bit rate and bandwidth. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the communication session is an audio session. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the digital stream is a stream of digital samples of an analog signal. 
     
     
       17. A method for selecting an encoding scheme for a communication session over a communication network comprising:
 encoding a digital stream to be transmitted according to one of a plurality of encoding schemes to provide an encoded digital stream; 
 creating packets to be transmitted from the encoded digital stream; 
 transmitting the packets to be transmitted over the communication network; 
 receiving control information from a network server, the control information bearing on a desired quality of experience level to be used for the communication session; and 
 instructing an encoder to select the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the control information, wherein the control information is used to select the encoding scheme that corresponds to the desired quality of experience level. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising receiving additional control information from a user via a user interface and selecting the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the additional control information as well as the control information from the network server. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  further comprising receiving additional control information from a remote communication client receiving the packets to be transmitted, and selecting the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the additional control information as well as the control information from the network server. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 receiving first additional control information from a user via a user interface associated with the control system; 
 receiving second additional control information from a remote communication client receiving the packets to be transmitted; and 
 selecting the one of the plurality of encoding schemes based on the first and second additional control information as well as the control information from the network server. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the network server is separate from the communication network.